The Au Ra glanced at annoyance with his knife, peering at it with a practised eye. One of the teeth of the serrated edge had been chipped off. With a tsk, Kasrjin diligently reapplied the blade to the tusk of the dead yeti he was perched on, making a mental note to replace the blade when he could. A hatchet may have been preferable. The merchant had assured him of the blade's quality. "Finest Ishgardian steel," he had said. If this was the finest quality they had to offer, it was no wonder they were losing their conflict against the dragons.
Kasrjin had been prowling the Western Highlands for almost fifteen suns now. He no longer entered the city at all. He had made an arrangement with an enterprising young knight eager for prestige; the knight would supply him with bills, coin, and provisions, while the Au Ra would hunt the beasts and allow the knight to claim the credit. It had been a profitable arrangement thus far, given the circumstances.
After pulling the tusk from the yeti--with some difficulty--the Au Ra tied the prodigious trophy to his back, swinging the blued steel upwards in order to prop it on his shoulder for travel. With this last trip, assuming the knight went through with his end, he should have enough for his expedition. Kasrjin had done little with his hunt earnings beyond stockpiling it and spending it on provisions. With this last hunt, there should be enough: one of the large birds for a mount, some survival tools, and provisions for at least thirty suns for one man. With this, he should be equipped to enter Dravania.
The Au Ra had only been to Tailfeather twice, but the climate was not nearly as harsh as the Highlands. Conversation with the huntmaster had revealed that danger took form in other ways: dragons, aggressive animals, and "beastmen".
If the Ishgardians are correct, the dragons will mistake me for one of their own. the Au Ra thought rather snidely to himself.
The pearl fastened to his horn chimed lightly, startling the Au Ra somewhat. By all rights the sensation should long have lost its power to cause Kasrjin to jump, but it was not used often enough for him to build a proper tolerance for the sensitive, almost imperceptible vibrations that the device made whenever contact was made.
"Khadai, Captain Mirke has hired me to guide her back out through the Western Highlands in search of her crew. I have asked her to meet me at Falcon's Nest in a few suns. I was wondering... if you would accompany me?"
Kasrjin frowned somewhat. That woman had been asking many favours of him lately. Self-reliance is hardly a virtue, apparently.
"I possess pre-determined plans to venture out. I will meet her with you, but I do not make promises to my participation."
A frown. Falcon's Nest was quite close to Ishgard. People had been looking for the three involved in Dragonhead; himself, Edda, and Roen. Would this be too risky? Almost subconsciously, the Au Ra did his best to tug the hood of his cloak over his head, though the large horns adorning his head still made distinct shapes emerge from even the largest of hoods.
"This does not sound like a venture you would take. For what reason do...." he paused. "We shall discuss this in person, then."
The wind was picking up. Best to collect his compensation as early as possible.
Kasrjin had been prowling the Western Highlands for almost fifteen suns now. He no longer entered the city at all. He had made an arrangement with an enterprising young knight eager for prestige; the knight would supply him with bills, coin, and provisions, while the Au Ra would hunt the beasts and allow the knight to claim the credit. It had been a profitable arrangement thus far, given the circumstances.
After pulling the tusk from the yeti--with some difficulty--the Au Ra tied the prodigious trophy to his back, swinging the blued steel upwards in order to prop it on his shoulder for travel. With this last trip, assuming the knight went through with his end, he should have enough for his expedition. Kasrjin had done little with his hunt earnings beyond stockpiling it and spending it on provisions. With this last hunt, there should be enough: one of the large birds for a mount, some survival tools, and provisions for at least thirty suns for one man. With this, he should be equipped to enter Dravania.
The Au Ra had only been to Tailfeather twice, but the climate was not nearly as harsh as the Highlands. Conversation with the huntmaster had revealed that danger took form in other ways: dragons, aggressive animals, and "beastmen".
If the Ishgardians are correct, the dragons will mistake me for one of their own. the Au Ra thought rather snidely to himself.
The pearl fastened to his horn chimed lightly, startling the Au Ra somewhat. By all rights the sensation should long have lost its power to cause Kasrjin to jump, but it was not used often enough for him to build a proper tolerance for the sensitive, almost imperceptible vibrations that the device made whenever contact was made.
"Khadai, Captain Mirke has hired me to guide her back out through the Western Highlands in search of her crew. I have asked her to meet me at Falcon's Nest in a few suns. I was wondering... if you would accompany me?"
Kasrjin frowned somewhat. That woman had been asking many favours of him lately. Self-reliance is hardly a virtue, apparently.
"I possess pre-determined plans to venture out. I will meet her with you, but I do not make promises to my participation."
A frown. Falcon's Nest was quite close to Ishgard. People had been looking for the three involved in Dragonhead; himself, Edda, and Roen. Would this be too risky? Almost subconsciously, the Au Ra did his best to tug the hood of his cloak over his head, though the large horns adorning his head still made distinct shapes emerge from even the largest of hoods.
"This does not sound like a venture you would take. For what reason do...." he paused. "We shall discuss this in person, then."
The wind was picking up. Best to collect his compensation as early as possible.
